101–110 of 111 posts
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Do you know if they can modify existing contracts ? So they take out that article but I doubt it applies to the contracts (pensions) done while the provision was in force.
Yes, but only with a constitutional amendment.
Chicago is the magic kingdom of all cities. The lakefront, transportation systems, forest preserves, museums, restaurants, theater, activities, and good old Midwestern common sense provide a combination of cosmopolitan and blue collar flavor. I can't count how many people have moved here and commented that they were shocked how easygoing people were and making long-lasting friendships was easier than they'd ever imag…
You're making me miss my hometown. Everything there is just amazing, I love the city and the people in it. The people are so kind and the transportation is stellar, and you can listen to Fred & Angi on your way to work.
Taxes went up on residents before the trump tax plan and again with it.
The money in the city is controlled by a few powerful families that stick to investing in proven businesses. Don’t expect anything bigger than SocialKaty to launch in Chicago.
The city is extremely corrupt. Powerful local aldermen aren’t going anywhere and benefit from the lack of diversity in the city (it was the most segregated city in the country for years and still tops the charts). The aldermen and the corruption around them is a big part of why the south side is so terrible.
Look around during construction season (aka as Summer in Chicago) and you will see around six construction companies responsible for all projects big and small. It’s really corrupt.
Chicago is a bro culture and once you are a bro you’re in for life. If you don’t get into the drinking lifestyle it won’t be easy to integrate.
1871 is a real estate company. Not a tech incubator. Mark Lawrence / Jeremy Smith getting SpotHero going is probably the only success story that isn’t nonsense out of there.
OCA / Pritzker / Lightbank
None of those understand how to treat founders. Those are some of the biggest funds.
That all said. The cost of living is low. The talent pools are deep. The culture is changing. There is money if you have established revenue or a proven model.
No single industry is the dominant economic force making it a great test for a variety of startups seeking traction.
MHub is amazeballs. If you are doing hardware go here. Bill deserves a medal for what he’s done.
Charles Adler’s lost arts is nifty. TBD if it makes startups better IMHO but it has real promise.
Urbs in Horto
Fly the W
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The argument here is about how zoning can create dense cities with tall buildings in an affordable way. At a fifth of the population density of course Des Moins is going to have cheaper land.
I agree. That was my point; it's silly to say "there is at least one skyscraper in ${CITY} and ${CITY} is more affordable than Chicago, ergo ${CITY} is a skyscraper city", which is the argument the OP made about Pittsburgh and Atlanta. I just demonstrated the silliness of the reasoning by taking it to its extreme conclusion with Des Moines.
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Not before they’re due, and it’s written into the state constitution (Article XIII, Section 5). Those obligations (~$105 billion) won’t be shed. “Benefits to public employees are protected under the Illinois Constitution, and a recent attempt to reduce the unfunded liability by reducing retirees’ benefits was struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court” http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-illinois-pension-law-court-...
> it’s written into the state constitution Which can be amended if there is popular will. I don’t think state pensions are enforceable under federal law.
States are sovereign, it's more likely that when the shit hits the fan with state/local debt and broader economic conditions that the states will just stop paying and renegotiate general obligations. Look at what is happening with puerto rico, and think about how it would play out in a scenario where the Federal government has more limited ability to drive anything.
Chicago is the magic kingdom of all cities. The lakefront, transportation systems, forest preserves, museums, restaurants, theater, activities, and good old Midwestern common sense provide a combination of cosmopolitan and blue collar flavor. I can't count how many people have moved here and commented that they were shocked how easygoing people were and making long-lasting friendships was easier than they'd ever imag…
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It really should be "city livable without a car" because that is what really separates Chicago from all of the other affordable midwestern cities.
This is pretty much it. I haven't lived in Chicago, but have a lot of friends from there and did some research while on my last jobs search. Putting affordability next to availability of public transportation, Chicago is probably the best mix I found. Unfortunately, as others had mentioned, the job market couldn't make it worth it for me.
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Lake effects winters are nothing to scoff at. Cold temperatures, wind, and excessive snow/freezing rain make for some really miserable times.
Sitting here in the middle of a heatwave, I have to ask: are they really that bad when you can just add warm-weather clothing? Or when even just moving will generate some heat? I've heard in Wisconsin you have to breathe a certain way to warm the air before it gets to your lungs, so maybe that's the problem? I've only lived in hot climates, so I have no concept of true cold. But with how summers have been getting hot…
Let me describe wind, and its effect during a cold day. Wind chill describes the effect of wind on exposed skin, by describing the equivalent effect in pure temperature. At -20 farenheit, you're uncomfortable, but you're able to operate without having your face covered; without having to breathe from a heated air supply. At -20 F with a (for the region) mild breeze of 20mph, the equivalent temperature is -50. Cold enough that you will get frostbite on any exposed skin within 5-10 minutes (i.e. your skin freezes solid and can cause permanent damage).
At -40 (a particularly cold day), with the same wind, it's equivalent to -75 F. That's much more rare, only 1-2 times per winter. You are pretty much trapped indoors on those days.
When I lived in the mid-west, they would shut down the college only when it reached -40 with a still wind, or -110F with wind chill. The college would be shut down an average of 4-5 days out of the winter.
So, yeah. You absolutely can survive it; can live in it. Like all annoying or even painful things, you can even become inured to it - consider it a badge of pride. That doesn't make it pleasant.
I think with restaurants, art scene, theater, and parks, it beats other affordable cities (not sf, nyc) in my mind. But it doesn’t have the outdoors fun of the West. If we leave, we may go very rural. Taxes and financial trouble do make me a little nervous, as a property owner.
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If the tax burden makes young people leave, they'll have to raise taxes even more on the remaining young people, causing more to leave, in a vicious cycle.
Exactly. This is why I’m unreassured by blithe dismissals that “oh you can just raise taxes, what’s the problem”. The problem is that no one has to join the Ponzi scheme, and that’s exactly why many corporate PAYGO plans failed!
Pretty similar to how the Bay Area operates (you get to stay if you're rich or continue to grind, otherwise you have to GTFO).
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You're making me miss my hometown. Everything there is just amazing, I love the city and the people in it. The people are so kind and the transportation is stellar, and you can listen to Fred & Angi on your way to work.
The state is bankrupt thanks to unfunded pensions. Taxes went up on residents before the trump tax plan and again with it. The money in the city is controlled by a few powerful families that stick to investing in proven businesses. Don’t expect anything bigger than SocialKaty to launch in Chicago. The city is extremely corrupt. Powerful local aldermen aren’t going anywhere and benefit from the lack of diversity in th…
Investors in Chicago are old school. Show them a rock solid set of books and you get funded. They don't invest in hopes, resumes, or names.
1871 has other great success stories, just some of them aren't public radar material. I ran an ed-tech startup out of 1871 in its first three years and had excellent support.
Diverse economy has always been a huge strength.
I'm joining mHub next month! - related - would love to find a product engineer partner with experience in plumbing, water-flow, modular pipe connectors.